Refrigerator



Nov. 10, 1942. A. c. sHUART E-rm.V

REFRIGERATOR Filed April 8, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS [bm 5M 1% WTTORNEY.

Nov.

f 'A. c. sHUART ETAL REFRIGERAT JR Filedl April 8, 195'?.

5 sheets-sheet] 5 Y NENTORS ATTORNEY.

Nov. 10, 1942*. A. c. sHuART ET AL REFRIGERATOR Filed April 8. 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS BY M0111/ l IATTORNEY.

^ embodying the invention; Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are Patented Nov. 1I), 1942 UNITED STATE REFRIGERATOR Arthur C. Shuart, Rockford, Ill., and Harry L. Ax-

ford, Evansville, Ind., assignors to Servel, Inc., .New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application Apri-1 s,1937`,serial No. 135,629

. 3 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly to refrigerator cabinet -structure.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improvement in refrigerator cabinets having an outer shell formed from a single sheet of metal, whereby a cabinet is provided having a marked improvement in appearance. Another object of the invention is to provide an improvement in fabricating a shell from a single sheet of metal by providing rounded corners about the entire front and at the top of the shell. A further object of the invention is to provide a cabinet having an outer shell of'this type whereby the insulating material and inner liner defining the storage space may be inserted within the outer y shell through the front of the cabinet to facilitate the assembly of the structure.

- The above and other objects and advantage of the invention'will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and of which Fig. l. is a side vertical section of a refrigerator cabinet plan views of a metal sheet diagrammatically illustrating the steps Ain forming the outer onepiece shellof the refrigerator cabinet shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are end views of the metal sheet shown in' Figs. 2, 3, and 4, respectively; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line v Il-- of Fig. 4 to illustrate more clearlyl the forming of the front of thecabinet; Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the outer shell formed from the sheet shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken at line Ill- I of Fig. 9 to illustrate more clearly the projecting tongues at r the rounded upper corners of the outer shell;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 with the tongues bent over and secured to the top and side wall pieces to form part of the front of the cabinet; Fig. 12 .is a rear elevation of the outer shell shown in Fig. 11 and also illustrates cross-members at the front of the cabinet; Figs. 13, 14, and l are sectional views illustrating the manner in which the bottomhorizontal plate of the upper insulated storage space is supported and secured` in position at the 'lateral side walls, front and rear of the cabinet, Fig. 14 being a view taken at line I4-I4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 16 isa plan view of ametal sheet or blank, similar to that shown in Fig. 2, illustrating a modification of the inven- L tion; and Fig. 1'? is a front elevation of the outer shell formed from the sheet shown in Fig. 16.

Referring to Fig. 1, the inventionis shown '/having an opening, and at the opening a door I'l is hinged to the front of the cabinet. Below the a refrigerator comprising a cabinet I0 provided with a base II and having an inner metal shell or liner I2 arranged within an outer metal shell I4 and insulated therefrom with any suitable insulating material I5. The inner shell I2 defines a .thermally insulated storage compartment I6 storage compartment I6 is a lower compartment I8 which extends to the rear of the cabinet and communicates with an upward extending compartment I 9 which is substantially the same height as the cabinet Ill. The lateral side walls of the outer shell I4 extend or project beyond a metal plate or. panel 20 of the rear insulated wall V of the storage compartment I6 to provide the compartment I9, and at the opening ofthe lower compartment I8 a door 2l is hinged to the front o f the cabinet.

A cooling element or evaporator 22 of a refrigerating systemis disposed in the storage compartment I6 to maintain the latter at a desired 'low temperature. The refrigerating system, which may be either of an absorption or compression type, may be housed in the lower and vertical compartments I8 and I9. In order to arrange the cooling element 22 within the storage compartment I6, the rear wall ofthe storage compartment may -be provided with an opening having a removable wall part or cover 23 through which extend conduits 24 and 25 connecting the cooling element 2 2 with other parts of the refrigerating system. The heat rejecting parts of the system are preferably housed in the vertical compartment I9 which forms a flue through which an upward flow of air is induced by natural draft. .The vertically( extending compartment I9 may be partly orf/fully enclosed by a rearV v plate 26. A perforatedy enclosure member 21 is fixed to the upper part of compartment I9 to perl mit upwardiow of air in the latter. The'parts of the refrigerating system associated with the cooling element 22 have not been shown in the drawings, since their illustration is not necessary' for an understanding of the present invention. f

The rear panel '20 serves as a closure member and extends between the lateralside walls of the outer shell I4. The upper part of panel 20 and rear wall of liner I2 Iare provided with flanged openings to receive the grooved edges of a trim 2B defining the opening for the removable cover -23. Above the opening for the removable cover 23 the panel 20 is providedwith a recess or holiri low 2 9 whichextendsy between lthe side walls of the outershell and may be used to house a part of the refrigerating system.

The lower partv of panel 20 is provided with an i enlarged opening 30 whereby the compartments I8 and I9 are in open communication. The up'per edge of opening 30 is bent back upon itself to form a groove 3I which is substantially at the same height as grooves 32 formed by members 33 at the side walls of the outer shell, and groove 34 formed by thebent lower edge of crossfmember bottom plate 36 is sealed to the rear panel 20, side walls of the outer shell I4, and cross-mem-- ber 35 with a suitable material, such as the compound commercially known as Korite. The

manner inwhich thebottom plate 36 isarranged and ysupported within the outer shell I4is fully described and claimed in 'application Serial No. 135,628, of H. Wallace,led April 8, 1937, nowg Patent No. 2,234,639, granted March 11, 1941.

The periphery of the rear panel 20 is sealed to. the top and side walls of the outer shell I4, so vthat theV thermally insulated walls of storage compartment I6 are effectively sealed against infil-4 tration of air.

'I'he edges of the outer shell I4 and inner shell I2 about the upper door opening are secured to a wooden frame 31. v About the upper door opening are secured finishing or trim strips 36 which are preferably formed of insulating material, such as the material commercially known as Bakelite. The door I1 is provided with a ledge to which is fixed a gasket 36 which bears against the'l outer shell I4 and a cross-member 35 when the door is in its closed position. The lower door 2| in its closed position bears against the front marginal portions of the outer shell I4,-

cross-member 35, and ,a lower cross-member 40 which extends across the front of the cabinet.

In accordance with this invention the outer shell I4 is made of a single sheet of metal to y are equally spaced' from projections 56.'

provided with rectangular projections or tabs 56 and 51. The projections 56 are at the extreme lateral edges of the sheet and the projections 51 The front longitudinal edge of sheet I4 is also provided with rectangular tongues 66 opposite the end portions of recess 43. The tongues- 60 extend beyond the front longitudinal edge of the sheet and are concave-shaped at the outer edges. The -tongues 60 are lformed by cutting two pairs of notches 6I which are V-shaped with one side of each notch curved away from a straight side of one 'of the tongues 60.

'I'h'e diierent portions along the front longitudinal'edge of sheet I4 are also bent to form flanges, as'indicated at 62, 63 and 64 in Fig. 3. 'Ihe flanges 62 are right angle flanges, and the flanges 63 and 64 are inclined at an acute angle to the plane of the sheet I4.

After blanking the sheet I4 shown in Figs. 2 and 5 and described above, the longitudinal and lateral edges of the sheet are bent in suitable apparatus to form all of the flanges in a single operation. The sheet I4 after the flanging operationis'of the general shape shown in Fig. 3 with all of the ilanges being right angle flanges except the inclined flanges 63 and 64.

After the iianging operation 'the front longitudinal edge of the sheet is bent, as shown most clearly in Figs. 7 and 8, tol form the front marginal portionsof the cabinet. The front longitudinal edge is preferably bent to form a rounded corner 65.' 'I'he curved contour begins at a region substantially at the apices of the V-shaped notches 6I so that sumcient material is provided to form the front marginal portions form the top, front, and lateral side walls of the e cabinet I0. Referring to Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive, the sheet of metal forming the outer shell I4 is blanked from a flat sheet and is of the general shape shown in Fig. 2. The sheet I4 comprises two end portions 4I forming the lateral side walls of the cabinet, and a central or intermediate portion 42 forming the top of the cabinet. The central portion 42 of sheet I4 is provided with a rectangular recess 43 along, the rear longitudiend portions 4I.

The outer corners of recess 43 are notched at nal edge and is therefore narrower than the 44 and the innercorners thereof are slotted -The edges. of sheet I4 which lare bent to form `the flanges 46, 41, 52, 534 and54 are provided with a pluralityof spaced openings 55 when sheet I4 is blanked from a flat sheet. 1 The front longitudinal Edge of the sheet is of the cabinet.

With the sheet I4 as shown in Figs. 4, 7 and 8.

the metal members 33 are secured thereto, as-

the tongues 60 and the end portions 46 of recess I 43. 'I'he rounded front edge 65 of sheet I4 forms the side marginal portions 66 and top marginal portion 61 of the front of the shell. 'I'he tongues`60, which still project beyond the-front of the shell after the latter is made U-shaped.-

are then bent over `and united, as by welding, for example, to the side and topy front marginal portions 66 and 61, as indicated at 468 in Fig. 11. It will be noted that after the outer shell I4 is completed, the inclined flanges 63 and 64 slant inward and rearward. 'I'he tongues 60 are bent in such a manner that-the concave shaped outer edges thereof form the the flanges 69 so that a continuous inclined flange-isJ provided from the upper side of one projection 51 around the entire upper opening to the upperside of the opposite projection 51.

'I'he cross-members 35' and at the front of l the cabinet; are secured in position after the outer shell is completed, and, as shown in Fig. 12, are provided with offset end portions which are welded to the under sides of projections 51 and 56. By providing the offset end portions, the outer surfaces of the cross-members 35 and 40 and projections or tabs 56 and 51 are substan- 4| of the outer `sneu I4.

tially ush and provide a smooth surface. The cross-member 35 is providedwith an inclined flange 'I0 which slants inward and also rearward, and, with the flanges 63 and 64, defines the opening of the upper compartment I6.` The lower edge of cross-member 35 is bent back upon itself intermediate the offset end portions to provide the U-shaped groove 34 which, as previously explained, is at the same height as the grooves 32 formed by members 33 at the lateral side walls of the shell.

After the cross-members 35 and 40 are secured to the projections 56 and 51, the rear panel 20 is secured in position within the outer shell I4.

The top edge of panel 20 is secured toflange 41v at the top of the shell, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. The inner flange 12 of the perforated hood 21 is also secured to ange 41, and the bottom flanges 13 of the hood, 4which are locatedv at theA lateral sides of the cabinet, are secured to the short transverse flanges 46 which are at right angles to the flange 41. The rear wall 26 of the -cabinetis secured to the vertically extending flanges 52 at `the sides With the rear panel 20 secured in place, the bottom plate 36 is positioned within the outer shell, as described above,

and the rear panel 20 and bottom' plate 36 are sealed to prevent infiltration of air into the upper storage compartment I6.

The door frame 31, which is preferably in several parts or sections, is next positioned about the door opening of upper compartment I6. The flanges 63 and 64 of the outer shell I4, and the flange of cross member 35, are secured to the frame, as by nails, for example, or in any other` suitable manner. The insulating material I5 is then placed against vthe walls of the upper com-V partment, and inner liner 'I2 is inserted through the front of the cabinet with the trim 28 held in e position between the flanged openings of the inner liner and rear panel 20. The front edges of liner `I2 are secured to the door frame 31, as by nails, for example, and the trim or finishing strips 38 then secured in position. The base II, having a ange 14 at'its upper edge, is secured to the flanges 53 and 54 at the lower edges of the side walls 4I of the outer shell,

Instead of forming tongues 60 and notches Aor recesses 6I at' each side of the tongues to provide smooth rounded corners at the front of the cabinet, a sheet of metal forming the outer shell may be blanked and provided with one or more recesses of any other suitable shape so that, upon bending, -the edges of the recessV` or recesses at each corner are substantially in contact and form seams which can be readily united, as by welding, for example. In order to -expedite the making of the one-piece outer shell having rounded corners, the shape of the sheet at the region of bending and also the shape of the notch or notches are preferably such that excess metal is avoided and clean cut seams are provided which can be immediatelywelded. Y

In Fig. 16 a modification of the sheet I4 illustrated in Fig. 2. is shown in whichA T-shaped notches are provided opposite the ends of recess 43. The portions of notches 15 which extend in a lengthwise directionof the sheet are convexshaped, while the portions of the slots extending toward the front longitudinal edge diverge at their outer ends. shape that, when the sheet is bent to provide the top and lateral side walls, as Ashown in Fig. 17, the edges of the notches are in abutting relation and can be welded or united in the same vmanner as the notches 6I in the embodiment described above.

By forming the outer shell of the cabinet from a single sheet of metal, an `exceptionally rigid structure is provided in which the necessity of' using gaskets at thetop and lateral sides is avoided. The forming Aof rounded corners at the top and front of the cabinet is particularly desirable because relatively sharp cornersare eliminated, and a cabinet is provided having a marked improvementA in appearance. The'notches arfof such shape that smooth rounded surfaces are provided at the top front corners which conform to 'the contour ofboth the rounded corners at the top and front of the shell. After the cabinet shells have been rendered rustproof and finished,

las'with lacquer, for'example, thev entire outer seams.

It is distinctly advantageous to provide inclined flanges 63 and 64 about the upper dooropening during the flanging operation. This provides a door opening which slants inward from the front to .the rear and permits inserting the insulating material and liner through the front of the cabinot; thereby facilitating the assembly of the cabine y While several embodiments of the improved refrigerator cabinet structure have been. shown and described, su'ch variations and modifications are contemplated as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention, as pointed out in the following claims.

What is claimed is: 1. An outer shell for a refrigerator cabinet having the top, lateral side walls and 1narginal front portions formed from a metal blank, said shell being substantially U-shaped and having rounded corners about the entire front and at the top thereof, said marginal front portions as sociated with vsaid lateral side walls having inwardly extending tabs substantially opposite each other, thel corners at the upper edges of said tabs and said marginal front portions being rounded, said marginal front portions and said tabs having' anges extending rearward therefrom, a. cross member extending between and secured tol said tabs, and said cross member also having a flange extending'rearward therefrom and forming a continuation of said flange on said marginal front portions and said tabs,

2. An outer shell for a refrigerator cabinet including a top and twolateral sides made from a These notches are of such "metallic blank, said shell having rounded corners y at the juncture of the top and the laterall sides, the forward edges at the top and lateral' sides being bent to form rounded corners and top and side front marginal portions extending .from such rounded corners, the upper forward corners being -rounded and including tongues welded to the4 top and side front marginal portions, the metallic blank being recessed or notched at each side of the tongues to separate each tongue from the forward edges at the top and lateral sides, and the tongues being brought into close edge to edge relation withl the top and side front marginal portions to permit welding together of the edges after bending the tongues and forward edges at the top and lateral sides.

3. An outer shell for a refrigerator cabinet including a top and two lateral sides made from a metallic blank, said shell having rounded c0rners at the juncture of the top-and the lateral s-ides, the forward edges at'the top and lateral sides being bent to form rounded corners and top and side front marginal portions extending from such rounded corners. the edges oi the top and side front marginal portions being bent -to form ilanges extending rearwardly from the front marginal portions, the upper Iorward'corners being rounded and including tongues welded to the top and side front marginal portions and anges formed integrally therewith, the metallic blank lbeing recessed or notched at eachside of the tongues to separate each tongue from the forward edges at the top and lateral sides. and the tongue being brought into close edge to edge relation with the top and side front marginal portions and integrally formed anges to permit welding together of the edges after bending the tongues and Iorward edges of the blank to form the front mar- 

